Poffit

My Feedback: (4)

Okay, I'm back. Been doing some thinking on the wing mounting. How does the single dowel in front hold up over time. Do you think it would be worth the effort to do a double dowel setup to help keep everything snug through the years.

Also I am thinking about replacing the back metal wing mount bolts with 1/4" plastic. That would be less prone to loosen due to vibration wouldn't it. But I don't know if plastic bolts would be strong enough on this plane. What is everyones opinion on this.

Pat

karolh

The single dowel works just fine so no need to do any adjustments in that area. As for replacing the metal wing retaining bolts with nylon, that's a very good idea and one which I did several years ago, after having the metal bolts loosen up on during a flight. I used the regular 1/4x 20 nylon wing bolts which have worked fine, just added a small piece of 3/8" thick hardwood to each hole area to give a deeper threaded hole for the nylon bolts to have more bite.

Karol

Poffit

My Feedback: (4)

If your single dowel has held up after all these years Karol then I am sure it will hold up for me as well. I have about all the small changes that I want to do with this plane written down in my notepad. Tomorrow maybe I can get a lot of the parts cut out and ready to build. The way everyone raves about how well this plan flies and with the DLE 20 engine I am getting excited to start building. This was supposed to be a winter project but I am going to try to get started now.

Thanks
Pat

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

If you have enough time you might get it in the air yet this year. It does build easily and flies great. I am flying number 2 now, my son has number 1 and i have started cutting parts as time allows for number 3, thanks to Grey Beard.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

The old Harley Extra was built in 1988 with a single dowel, if it can put up with my flying and still be tight after all these years I would say it holds up pretty well. I use two 4-40s or 8-32 hex heads to hold my wing on. Never once come loose. I have a 1/8 ply sheet/block on top of the wing and fender washers under the screws. Oh, they also screw into blind nuts. Why it has never vibrated loose I haven't a clue but they hold very well.

azrenagade

Has any one got a set of planes they would be willing to sell. i'd like to try my hand at scratch building this plane.
Thanks Mike

azrenagade

opp's set of plan's guess i need to pay more attention to what i,m typing lol

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

The plans haven't any of the ribs or formers shown in profile so you will need the plans, instructions and templates to build one. oldscaleguy may be able to help you out with that. The plane is a very easy build once you have those three items.

azrenagade

Thanks Greybeard. I'll get ahold of oldscaleguy & see if he can help me out.
Mike

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

Sent you a PM this morning Mike, your plans, templates and instruction book are ready to send to you. My work sent me to Mexico this past week and slowed down the process some.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Last time I needed the instructions I was able to down load them from the tower web site. Now it's up to Mike to help out the next person in need so make sure you keep everything.

azrenagade

Will do!
Thanks for the help guys
Mike

ExtraCGScott

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would post a few pictures of my CG Extra that I just maidened. I built this plane about 15 years ago. Everything was finished and ready to go except for the cowl. I packed it away (without flying), moved, and left the hobby. About a year and a halfago, while living in Panama (where I work), I heard one of the RC podcasts andcaught the bug again. For a year I dreamed about returning to Wisconsin and finishing the Extra. I pulled it out ofthe attic, dusted it off,and was amazed to find that the covering looked much like it did when Ioriginally covered it (except for some wrinkles in the leading edge).I went to the localHobbyTown USA and was in shock to learn that there wasn't a single kit..... all prebuilt planes. Moreover - the glowselection(engines,accessories, etc) wasalmost nonexistent.They had THREE rolls of Monokote!!!!(I had to go to three different hobby shopsto find the needed paint for thecowl). What happened over the past 15 years??? Nobody builds?? What do they do during the winters?? Anyhow - this bird has the original SuperTigre .90 bought just for this plane. It fired right up.Ran about a gallon of fuel through it on the ground (18 bucks a gallon??) and figured it was time. After 15 years.. I thought that I would have forgotten the time and money I spent on her and wouldn't be nervous. Well... took off, a couple of clicks of down elevator and it was flying straight and level. Problem was.. my fingers were shaking so badly that I thought I wouldn't be able to land it. Made one slow pass, the next pass was the landing.. wow... smoothest landing I have ever made. The box didn'ttell a lie... it indeed does land likea trainer! I can't believe they discountinued this kit!!!

Best,
Scott

ExtraCGScott

More Pics!

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

They didn't discontinue, CG was bought out by Lanier then they were bought out by Great planes then grreat planes discontinued the kit. You can buy a GP Extra though. Not a bad plane but not nearly as good as the CG Extra. GP dumped several of the CG kits.
In the last 15 years distributors discovered ARFs were easier to sell and they made more money selling ARFs instead of kits. They marketed ARFs really heavy and people bought into it, so much for kit building. Flying itself changed and people want really light weight planes and ARFs fit that bill too, not much wood in an ARF.
Anyway, today there is only a small selection of kits to be had so a lot of us build from plans, just cut our own kits or send the plans to a kit cutter. If you find any old kits you should make up templates of every part and save the plans and instructions. There are a lot of us that share these and can keep the good planes flying. Or you can buy an ARF.
Not all hobby shops are created the same, some are way better then others and have a good stock of items you require, just not kits. Others, well, you cn go in and buy a nice doll or toy but not much airplane gear. On line shopping has taken over a lot.
It's a sad state for builders but we get by.
Welcome home, sorry about the big shock. Look for fuel sales at Hobby People, about $15.00 a gallon. Not much of a hobby shop but they do have a lot more then most these days. Ask the guys at your local club where they go or who they use. I'm blessed with one good hobby shop and three chain store hobby shops so I can usually find what I need. Othrs aren't so lucky.

ExtraCGScott

Thanks for the insight Grey Beard,

I guess I did realize that ARFs were now cheap and popular, but I was surprised to find that kits are rare (chinese labor maybe cheap, butwe would build forfree - because it is fun!!). I will definitely take your advice concerning making templates. I have a few kits in the attic where I could still trace ribs, etc. I do have a bit of experience building from plans (I have a half built quarter scale cessna 140 that I start on years ago from plans I ordered from RC magazine- which is see is now no longer published . That will be my next project!

Snowball1952

My Feedback: (22)

I have a Goldberg Extra 300 wing kit if anyone could use it I would let it go cheap. Crashed mine a few years ago and never did anything with it after that.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Most of the plans services from magazines are still with us. I use Model Airplane News or RCM plans. AMA also has them. Most of the guys selling plans they have designed or bought rights to that used to sell from home are pretty much a thing of the past too. Depending on what type of plane kit you are looking for there are several places that are more of an on line service. For Bridi kits I like Blue Jay. The prices haven't gone up very much at all.

357ross

Snowball1952, I would be interested in the wing kit you mentioned.

Snowball1952

My Feedback: (22)

there are a few people interested. Make me an offer. Ship[ping would be what ever the actual cost is to send it. Thanks Kevin

flyingagin

I started 1 back around 95. Never finished it. I think it will be one of my winter projects. I either got to find the elevator and rudder or build new ones from the plans. I have the carbon fiber L.G. Wish I had bought the glass cowl and pants. May investigate use the A.B.S. parts to make molds for glass parts.
It sure is going to need some serious redoing.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Fiberglass Specialties still makes the cowl, pants and even the canopy. I think a while back in this post someone mentioned they even have the plastic cockpit?? Not sure about that.

flyingagin

Hey thanks Gray Beard
Oh wow that would be awesome. My plastic cockpit insert is cracked completely in halve, and canopy is not in good shape. Got to Finnish my current project I am building in a small apartment using the kitchen table.

OldScaleGuy

My Feedback: (2)

Fiberglass Specialties does not list the canopy insert that i can find but if there is a chance they have that part it would be worth a phone call or an e mail to confirm. It would be great if they have it available.
Here is what i found listed on their web site for parts available for the Goldberg Extra.
CG-9 Extra 300 cowl $39.00
CG-9B Extra 300 cowl ( bottom extended to fit Slimline Pitts muffler) $40.00
#69 Extra 300 wheel pants for wire landing gear $33.00
#117 Extra 300 wheel pants for aluminum landing gear $33.00
CG-9C Extra 300 canopy $24.00

flyingagin

wow thanks guys
I found their website. searching on Fiberglass Specialties got me everything but. Odd I searched on CG-9 Extra 300 cowl $39.00 and got it. http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc....wlkit.htm#CARL GOLDBERG
I'm jazzed